Influence… we all have it…
Google defined the word as the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.
We all do influence, one way or the other.
We gals certainly have influence. And we are not always wise in the ways we use it. There has always been a potential influence both for and against truth. Since the garden. Eve used hers and look at the mess we are in….
Women tend to be more impulsive, more emotional, and often quick to ‘do’ something…even if it’s the wrong thing. “Look at this fruit Adam…doesn’t it look delicious?”
I am again brought to my knees before God, examining my female self….confessing and repenting of using my influence in wrong ways. Think about how the women in the following passage misused their influence…..
“The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. (Acts 13:49,50)
They got the Apostles thrown out of the city. The very men with the message of salvation!
Have you ever stirred up a little stink? Used your words to cause strife or conflict? Spoke to someone you know who has more authority……to sway your own agenda?
Certainly using our influence is not always wrong. I believe we are taught to use it….to make disciples, to encourage, to cause others to want the peace and joy that we have in Jesus Christ.
But certainly we CAN influence in many areas that we need to purpose in our hearts and minds to NOT exercise influence.
My husband can write you a speeding ticket. You might think I can get you out of it….and I might could do that. If I chose.
But would speaking to him about releasing you from the penalty for your wrong doing be using my influence in the right way?
Let me just say this….don’t ask me. Cause I will say no. He does his job fairly, and my influencing him otherwise would equal to my doing his job instead of him. And I am not qualified to perform his job.
And God forbid I ever get in the way of God's message being delivered to another person.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Rich...
Rich… Are you ?
I had a conversation recently about how it is you put someone in the category of being ‘rich’.
Immediately, the American mind goes to $$$$ doesn’t it?
Money can sure makes life easier… in some ways.
It gets us things, pays for other people to do things for us. It enables us to have bigger and better. It makes it possible to go places, to play, to see the world.
But money is only a tool. And like all tools, it can make a job easier, it can be used properly, and used well.
Or not.
I am rich.
I have more food than I eat. I have more clothes than I wear. I have more rooms than I occupy. I have money enough with some to spare, and a savings account.
I am convicted tonight about how I use what I have. I personally know people who have to struggle to buy groceries. I know people who have to deny themselves in order to provide for the children in their care.
On my refrigerator, there are pictures of two children who benefit from a mere pittance of my money each month. I only give up what would buy a new blouse or a trip out to eat, and they are provided with food that is not available, clean water, clothing, and a chance at an education that we would consider primitive.
And I am convicted tonight that I somehow consider that I’ve done enough. I take the rest of what I have and spend it on whatever whim I have at the moment. After all, I work hard… right?
I think of Jesus’ words….
“…..it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matt. 19:23,24)
It is not money that causes the difficulty. It is the fact that we choose it over following Jesus. And that is the most costly thing we could ever do.
I had a conversation recently about how it is you put someone in the category of being ‘rich’.
Immediately, the American mind goes to $$$$ doesn’t it?
Money can sure makes life easier… in some ways.
It gets us things, pays for other people to do things for us. It enables us to have bigger and better. It makes it possible to go places, to play, to see the world.
But money is only a tool. And like all tools, it can make a job easier, it can be used properly, and used well.
Or not.
I am rich.
I have more food than I eat. I have more clothes than I wear. I have more rooms than I occupy. I have money enough with some to spare, and a savings account.
I am convicted tonight about how I use what I have. I personally know people who have to struggle to buy groceries. I know people who have to deny themselves in order to provide for the children in their care.
On my refrigerator, there are pictures of two children who benefit from a mere pittance of my money each month. I only give up what would buy a new blouse or a trip out to eat, and they are provided with food that is not available, clean water, clothing, and a chance at an education that we would consider primitive.
And I am convicted tonight that I somehow consider that I’ve done enough. I take the rest of what I have and spend it on whatever whim I have at the moment. After all, I work hard… right?
I think of Jesus’ words….
“…..it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matt. 19:23,24)
It is not money that causes the difficulty. It is the fact that we choose it over following Jesus. And that is the most costly thing we could ever do.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Personal....
Personal…. ‘of or relating to a particular person, carried on between individuals..’
Personally… ‘as far as oneself is concerned..’
We have personal belongings. Personal thoughts. Personal information.
“Don’t take it personally, but….”
“Personally, I think…..”
There are personal questions. Jesus asks one….
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" (Matt. 16:15, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20)
The world dances around trying so hard not to offend anybody. Each of us have personal choices and decisions. We are not obligated or forced to choose Jesus Christ. But He IS the Savior. There will be no other deliverance from the predicament we are in. We are NOT holy. We can not fix that. And we will not enter God’s Presence without being cleansed and made holy.
People have their empty religions, meaningless rituals. They are not wicked really….but certainly ungodly. The gods they serve are not holy. Their god is not God, The Father of Jesus Christ.
Yet we are conditioned to hold back in fear of offending them. Perhaps we hold back because we are not confident in our own convictions.
“Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matt. 15:12-14)
Perhaps the enemy has convinced us that we are incapable of effectively communicating the message to another person. (….the indwelling Holy Spirit will empower us to do that, but we must learn to hear and we must act when we do hear..)
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine……..
….according to His power that is at work within us,
..to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”(Eph. 3:16-21)
Personally… ‘as far as oneself is concerned..’
We have personal belongings. Personal thoughts. Personal information.
“Don’t take it personally, but….”
“Personally, I think…..”
There are personal questions. Jesus asks one….
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" (Matt. 16:15, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20)
The world dances around trying so hard not to offend anybody. Each of us have personal choices and decisions. We are not obligated or forced to choose Jesus Christ. But He IS the Savior. There will be no other deliverance from the predicament we are in. We are NOT holy. We can not fix that. And we will not enter God’s Presence without being cleansed and made holy.
People have their empty religions, meaningless rituals. They are not wicked really….but certainly ungodly. The gods they serve are not holy. Their god is not God, The Father of Jesus Christ.
Yet we are conditioned to hold back in fear of offending them. Perhaps we hold back because we are not confident in our own convictions.
“Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matt. 15:12-14)
Perhaps the enemy has convinced us that we are incapable of effectively communicating the message to another person. (….the indwelling Holy Spirit will empower us to do that, but we must learn to hear and we must act when we do hear..)
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine……..
….according to His power that is at work within us,
..to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”(Eph. 3:16-21)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Sway...
Sway... Something fixed at one end moving back and forth at the other...
Sometimes we can sway pretty good, sometimes not...
Perhaps it has to do with how well we are grounded, what we are grounded to...
"....having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." (Colossians 2:7 NASB)
I've watched in amazement as tall pine trees.... trees that must weigh hundreds and hundreds of pounds, reaching high toward the heavens... sway under the power of an invisible wind.
How can they stand so tall and straight up, much less sway back and forth like they do, yet remain standing?
They have strong roots and a body flexible enough to bend with the winds.
Winds do come that are more than they can endure without breaking. They do get damaged, twisted, broken off, even uprooted...When the storms come.
Often I want to be rigid and unbending. Sometimes I seem to forget where my roots reach to and forget to be grateful for the firm solid soil under me.
I want to be like those pines....ever green, standing tall and straight, yet flexible..remaining firmly rooted.
At least I want to want to...
Sometimes we can sway pretty good, sometimes not...
Perhaps it has to do with how well we are grounded, what we are grounded to...
"....having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." (Colossians 2:7 NASB)
I've watched in amazement as tall pine trees.... trees that must weigh hundreds and hundreds of pounds, reaching high toward the heavens... sway under the power of an invisible wind.
How can they stand so tall and straight up, much less sway back and forth like they do, yet remain standing?
They have strong roots and a body flexible enough to bend with the winds.
Winds do come that are more than they can endure without breaking. They do get damaged, twisted, broken off, even uprooted...When the storms come.
Often I want to be rigid and unbending. Sometimes I seem to forget where my roots reach to and forget to be grateful for the firm solid soil under me.
I want to be like those pines....ever green, standing tall and straight, yet flexible..remaining firmly rooted.
At least I want to want to...
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Batons....
Baton… I never could twirl one of those things, hit my elbow every time…
My little sister could twirl it. I’ve watched amazing performances over the years where girls could keep two of them spinning like crazy, throwing them up in the air. I even saw fire on the ends of a twirling baton in one performance.
Runners use batons. They have to ‘pass the baton’ to the next runner. Doesn’t matter how soon you get to the finish line if you failed to catch that handed off baton.
Looking at a scene revealed to us in Acts 6, I see a baton being passed off, and several batons being twirled at the same time.
“During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers--"Hellenists"--toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, "It wouldn't be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we'll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we'll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God's Word." The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose…..” (Acts 6:1-5 The Message)
I’m a pretty good multi-tasker. (…less so the older I get !! ) These Twelve apostles were definitely multi-tasking.
Testifying about the risen Jesus, performing signs and miracles to validate the power of the Holy Spirit, praying and ministering the Word of God, explaining the scripture and revealing the fulfilled prophecy within them…..and meeting physical needs of women who had no husband. Social work…
Seems they weren’t much different then us. How often I have complained to the minister that somebody wasn’t being cared for just right. Or complained about him because he didn’t do what I thought he should..
How many times have I complained that the preacher didn’t visit, the church didn’t bring food or send flowers… Why is it we think that is always somebody else’s job? Why is it we think we are off the hook because there is somebody on a payroll to do all that? Maybe it’s just me that’s guilty of that….
In this situation of the early church, there were some cultural things we just can’t appreciate. I am a woman, and though I’ve never been a widow, I don’t fear being without resources to feed and care for myself.
In this situation of the early church, the leading characters were doing the grunt work along with being on stage and in all the speaking engagements. Am I as willing as they to not just do the works that I have a passion for, but also be willing to roll up my sleeves and do the behind the scenes stuff? The dirty work? The stuff that’s not fun?
In this situation of the early church, when the baton was held out to be passed on, there were those willing to grab it and run with it. Am I as willing to accept a baton held out to me? Do I accept that responsibility without ill-will? Do I do everything I can to free others to move on to greater responsibility?
I admit it, it is sometimes hard for me to let go of that baton, hard to pass off to somebody else. After all, they might not do it ‘right’….they might do it differently than I do !! Gasp !!
I confess it, I often hesitate to accept a baton handed out to me. “Well, that’s just not my gift….”
Nonsense… I doubt Jesus thinks much of that excuse. Especially when there is a need and I’m an able body.
And I confess, I’m guilty….guilty of thinking the money I put in that plate on Sunday pays somebody to do stuff I could participate in myself. I have plenty excuses. I work. I don’t have time. I’m just not good at that. I don’t know those people. Those people don’t know me. I have dozens…
Course….I might be the only one.
But I doubt it.
My little sister could twirl it. I’ve watched amazing performances over the years where girls could keep two of them spinning like crazy, throwing them up in the air. I even saw fire on the ends of a twirling baton in one performance.
Runners use batons. They have to ‘pass the baton’ to the next runner. Doesn’t matter how soon you get to the finish line if you failed to catch that handed off baton.
Looking at a scene revealed to us in Acts 6, I see a baton being passed off, and several batons being twirled at the same time.
“During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers--"Hellenists"--toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, "It wouldn't be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we'll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we'll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God's Word." The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose…..” (Acts 6:1-5 The Message)
I’m a pretty good multi-tasker. (…less so the older I get !! ) These Twelve apostles were definitely multi-tasking.
Testifying about the risen Jesus, performing signs and miracles to validate the power of the Holy Spirit, praying and ministering the Word of God, explaining the scripture and revealing the fulfilled prophecy within them…..and meeting physical needs of women who had no husband. Social work…
Seems they weren’t much different then us. How often I have complained to the minister that somebody wasn’t being cared for just right. Or complained about him because he didn’t do what I thought he should..
How many times have I complained that the preacher didn’t visit, the church didn’t bring food or send flowers… Why is it we think that is always somebody else’s job? Why is it we think we are off the hook because there is somebody on a payroll to do all that? Maybe it’s just me that’s guilty of that….
In this situation of the early church, there were some cultural things we just can’t appreciate. I am a woman, and though I’ve never been a widow, I don’t fear being without resources to feed and care for myself.
In this situation of the early church, the leading characters were doing the grunt work along with being on stage and in all the speaking engagements. Am I as willing as they to not just do the works that I have a passion for, but also be willing to roll up my sleeves and do the behind the scenes stuff? The dirty work? The stuff that’s not fun?
In this situation of the early church, when the baton was held out to be passed on, there were those willing to grab it and run with it. Am I as willing to accept a baton held out to me? Do I accept that responsibility without ill-will? Do I do everything I can to free others to move on to greater responsibility?
I admit it, it is sometimes hard for me to let go of that baton, hard to pass off to somebody else. After all, they might not do it ‘right’….they might do it differently than I do !! Gasp !!
I confess it, I often hesitate to accept a baton handed out to me. “Well, that’s just not my gift….”
Nonsense… I doubt Jesus thinks much of that excuse. Especially when there is a need and I’m an able body.
And I confess, I’m guilty….guilty of thinking the money I put in that plate on Sunday pays somebody to do stuff I could participate in myself. I have plenty excuses. I work. I don’t have time. I’m just not good at that. I don’t know those people. Those people don’t know me. I have dozens…
Course….I might be the only one.
But I doubt it.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Love is....
Love… I ran across a list of quotes about love. Reading them made me wonder how differently we define love....just what does it means to love, what does it look like to be loved.... What do you say?
I think lots of us have some very skewed perceptions about love. Some of the quotes I can’t agree with, some of them don’t measure up with the teaching of Jesus.
“God IS love.” (1John 4:16 emphasis mine)
He invented the whole concept, it defines Him…and He gets to define what love is, not me
Or you.
One of the quotes I read is : “Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
Interesting quote to think about.
How does the happiness of another person effect me? What person’s happiness matters to me?
Jesus said we are to love God first and foremost. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' …..”
And He said we are to “Love your neighbor as yourself.'…” (Mark 12:30-31)
Loving other people is second only to loving God. I’d say that’s a pretty important matter to consider.
“ There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)
I tried hard to love a god I didn’t really know. I knew facts of history, not character and nature.
I was afraid of Him, knew I was supposed to love Him but didn’t find Him very loveable. Nor did I grasp His love for me. I didn’t know it, and certainly didn’t live in it.
All the dissatisfaction within me was a symptom of my need to know and live in His love. God loves us with a love we can not fathom, nor can we duplicate it. Man was created to live in His love…we are never complete and happy any other way.
His capacity to love is beyond human capacity, but He DOES enable us to love beyond our nature.
His love is essential to my happiness.
Loving Him is essential to my happiness.
If you don’t love Him, you wonder that you don’t know really Him.
Find Him today. He is so good.
I think lots of us have some very skewed perceptions about love. Some of the quotes I can’t agree with, some of them don’t measure up with the teaching of Jesus.
“God IS love.” (1John 4:16 emphasis mine)
He invented the whole concept, it defines Him…and He gets to define what love is, not me
Or you.
One of the quotes I read is : “Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
Interesting quote to think about.
How does the happiness of another person effect me? What person’s happiness matters to me?
Jesus said we are to love God first and foremost. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' …..”
And He said we are to “Love your neighbor as yourself.'…” (Mark 12:30-31)
Loving other people is second only to loving God. I’d say that’s a pretty important matter to consider.
“ There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)
I tried hard to love a god I didn’t really know. I knew facts of history, not character and nature.
I was afraid of Him, knew I was supposed to love Him but didn’t find Him very loveable. Nor did I grasp His love for me. I didn’t know it, and certainly didn’t live in it.
All the dissatisfaction within me was a symptom of my need to know and live in His love. God loves us with a love we can not fathom, nor can we duplicate it. Man was created to live in His love…we are never complete and happy any other way.
His capacity to love is beyond human capacity, but He DOES enable us to love beyond our nature.
His love is essential to my happiness.
Loving Him is essential to my happiness.
If you don’t love Him, you wonder that you don’t know really Him.
Find Him today. He is so good.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Names...
Name… Everybody gets one at birth. For us gals, most of us get a name change when we marry. Some folks get a name for themselves…whether a name for good or not so good…
In my religious heritage, the name of the church was an important issue. I mean the name that is on the sign out front. I have heard lots of sermons about names. I have come to understand that the only name that is important in that regard is the Name of Jesus the Christ. But, some folks are convinced otherwise, so whatever….
When we named our children, we considered lots of options. But we never thought past the sound of the name. Frequently, we didn’t like a name because it reminded us of someone else.
In scripture, names were very important, and had lots of meaning. They were words…they communicated something. Often, they indicated something to come to pass about the child….prophetic.
Hanna named her son Shmuel, in English spelled Samuel. It comes from the two Hebrew words ‘shama’ meaning to hear, and ‘el’ meaning almighty, which referred to diety. Samuel means heard of God. Hanna had no children, prayed fervently for a child, and she heard from God an answer to her prayer, conceived and bore a son. (1 Samuel 1:20)
Jesus, Jehovah saves. Immanuel, God with us.
Eve, Noah, Moses….I could write dozens of examples like this.
Have we lost something in the way we name our children? Maybe, maybe not….
When our youngest grand-daughter was to be born, the name was discussed almost every day. I can’t explain to you the why of it, but I knew her name. Her name was Caroline. I finally gave my suggestion, and eventually announced to my precious children that I would be calling this unborn child Caroline until I was told differently and informed of the name she would be given.
I looked the name up one day, and upon reading what the name means, was even more convinced that Caroline was indeed her name…… she was a ‘bringer of joy’.
And indeed she was and is.
Connie…. ?
“constant; steadfast”
In my religious heritage, the name of the church was an important issue. I mean the name that is on the sign out front. I have heard lots of sermons about names. I have come to understand that the only name that is important in that regard is the Name of Jesus the Christ. But, some folks are convinced otherwise, so whatever….
When we named our children, we considered lots of options. But we never thought past the sound of the name. Frequently, we didn’t like a name because it reminded us of someone else.
In scripture, names were very important, and had lots of meaning. They were words…they communicated something. Often, they indicated something to come to pass about the child….prophetic.
Hanna named her son Shmuel, in English spelled Samuel. It comes from the two Hebrew words ‘shama’ meaning to hear, and ‘el’ meaning almighty, which referred to diety. Samuel means heard of God. Hanna had no children, prayed fervently for a child, and she heard from God an answer to her prayer, conceived and bore a son. (1 Samuel 1:20)
Jesus, Jehovah saves. Immanuel, God with us.
Eve, Noah, Moses….I could write dozens of examples like this.
Have we lost something in the way we name our children? Maybe, maybe not….
When our youngest grand-daughter was to be born, the name was discussed almost every day. I can’t explain to you the why of it, but I knew her name. Her name was Caroline. I finally gave my suggestion, and eventually announced to my precious children that I would be calling this unborn child Caroline until I was told differently and informed of the name she would be given.
I looked the name up one day, and upon reading what the name means, was even more convinced that Caroline was indeed her name…… she was a ‘bringer of joy’.
And indeed she was and is.
Connie…. ?
“constant; steadfast”
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